In Al-Rasafi market, merchants fired pistols in the air outside a seven-storey garment store, while at Al-Arabi market shopkeepers fired Kalashnikov rifles toward approaching looters.

"We want the law to rule and if the Americans don't defend us then we'll defend ourselves with our own weapons," said merchant Khazen Hussein.

Young people were also seen with iron bars running after potential thieves.

Baghdad has seen rampant looting since US troops rolled in Wednesday and the two-and-half-decade authority of Saddam Hussein crumbled. Almost everything has been considered fair game, from the luxury homes of senior regime figures to European diplomatic missions.

Twenty-five people were admitted to Baghdad's Al-Kindi hospital on Friday after suffering gunshot wounds in clashes during the looting.

But the hospital, Baghdad's largest, can provide little help as it has been looted itself.

"The situation is chaotic and catastrophic," Peter Tarabula, medical coordinator for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) here, said after an ICRC team inspected the hospital.

All staff have fled Al-Kindi hospital with the exception of two doctors who administer first aid but do not carry out operations.

"The doctors have all left," said nurse Jawad al-Jabiri.

Few patients have remained at the hospital since the looting Thursday, in which armed men stole two ambulances and medicine from the facility.

US troops called to assist them replied that they had no orders to intervene and medical staff said they were powerless to stop the thieves.

Shiite Muslim fighters from the southern city of Najaf have set up camp at the hospital and are posted at all the exits.

The fighters are led by Sheikh Abbas al-Zubaidi, who has donned a white doctor's gown over his traditional robe.

SPACE.WIRE